Singer-songwriter Junaid Jamshed is believed to be among the casualties after a Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed in Pakistan on Wednesday. The 52-year-old was reportedly travelling with his wife Ayesha when their plane crashed in the country's Abbottabad district.
Some 42 passengers, including two children, were on board the flight from the northern city of Chitral to Islamabad. An airline spokesman said the aircraft went missing from the radar before crashing in a hilly area near the town of Havelian.
Junaid Jamshed is believed to be among the casualties from the Pakistan plane crash
There were no immediate details on casualties, but eyewitnesses have claimed there is unlikely to be any survivors. Social media images show that locals have been helping with the recovery of bodies, while Pakistan's interior ministry has also dispatched a team of experts to identify bodies through DNA tests.
A passenger manifest released from flight PK-661 showed that Junaid had been on board the doomed flight alongside his wife. A former singer-songwriter, he had most recently been working as an Islamic preacher. He had been in Chitral for preaching-related work, and was reportedly dropped at the airport by his friend Mohammad Ayub at 3pm.
The renowned recording artist was previously awarded a Medal of Excellence by the president of Pakistan.
© Photo: RexThe plane crashed in Pakistan on Wednesday
After news that Junaid was feared dead started to spread, many people took to Twitter to share their prayers for his wellbeing.
Adil Ray, the star of the BBC One comedy Citizen Khan, offered his condolences on social media.
Ray wrote: "Very sad news of missing Pakistani flight. One of Pakistans most famous former pop stars on board. Huge loss. Thoughts with all families."
